20" Skywatcher Dob?

[Crusader]

Have any of you heard any rumors about a 20" Skywatcher dob being in the pipeline?

I spoke to the local Skywatcher distributor today with regards to the auto-tracking Dobs. He mentioned that a 14" and even 20" Dob will be released in the coming months.

The 20" will apparently have a FL of around 2200mm if he remembers correctly from his recent visit to the Skywatcher factory.:eyepop:

It would be quite something if they do bring it to market.

[lacad01]

You'd have to wonder if the current three pole design would be up to scratch with something that big :shrug:

[telecasterguru]

Can't find anything on their website but I sure would be interested to see one.

Frank

[rmcpb]

Don't want to know. Get into too much trouble with SWMBO even thinking about things like that :)

[trent_julie]

where do i sign up?

[Crusader]

I don't know much detail about the scope or the design they will use. The only thing I do know is that it will aparently have a FL of around 2200mm.

I'm definitely in for one if I can afford it and if I can figure out a place to store and a method to move and use it - not to mention getting some severely lacking collimation skills.

[mental4astro]

Collimation issues?

Check out this groovey 22" scope with automated collimation!

http://www.fiskemiles.com/buildinga22inchdob/22-inch-dobsonian-telescope-finished.php

A little down the page is a photo showing the collimation control switches on the secondary cage, and the next shot showing the belts from the motors to the collimation screws viewed from below the mirror box.

Unreal idea!

2200 fl makes this cyclops very fast. Alot of coma. Careful. My f/4.5 17.5" though good really shows of this effect at low power. Need to know what you're in for.

Will give GSO a real run, (made by them???!!!).

[Jen]

:lol::lol: lol Rob thats a funny comment ;)
:rofl:

[AstroJunk]

Stunning news - I never thought there would be a market for a mass produced big dob.

How cool is that ? (although the cynic in me says that it is a catalogue item only for headline grabbing that they don't actually expect to sell many)

[astroron]

I could be tempted to sell my 16" to get some pennies towards getting one :thumbsup:

[Blue Skies]

:confuse3: hmmm. I hope it is actually portable. I know the GSO is the other brand but their 16" scopes are too big. I've rebuilt a 17.5" that has smaller footprint than those monsters! I will reserve judgement until I actually see the design, but I've often said I'd like a 20" (although I'm usually refering to a 20" Obession when I say that!)

[Crusader]

From what the guy said it sounds like SW has too many orders for the 20. He said he was to late to order some. So it definitely looks like there's a market for it!

That's of course provided that it actually exists and will go to market.

[AstroJunk]

Well I will be the very first to recommend 20" of sheer joy :thumbsup:

If you can get one, GET ONE!

[CoombellKid]

Sounds great :thumbsup:

I think I remember hints from GSO about a 20" a couple of years back.

I wasn't aware Sky Watcher made mirrors. I thought they used Synta
mirrors. I'd be interested to know who is actually making the mirror...
hopefully GSO :). I brought my 16" primary direct from them last year
for AUD$782.00 where locally a well known retailer were trying to flog
the same thing for $1800.00. I'll buy the mirror direct if I can and build
the scope around it.

Cheers,CS

[CoombellKid]

One of the few things that is a bonus after divorce :thumbsup: not that I'm
recomending it, but the new GF is a joy... and she'll stay a GF :lol: for
the time being.

Cheers,CS

[rider]

MMmmm,
<daydream> takes off cradle, straps to eq5 </daydream>
<realitycheck> vision of bent tripod spiraling into lawn and drive gear shrapnel ricocheting of back wall </realitycheck>

NOT ON Rider, sit boy sit, no,no,no,no, no, NO! Rider! NO!


(sorry, I tend to daydream in .XML code)

[skies2clear]

Interesting question who makes mirrors for Skywatcher. I have a Saxon 10" Dob, which is the same scope as the fixed tube Skywatcher 10" Dob. Both of these have Pyrex primary mirrors. In fact, Saxon claimed the mirror was not only Pyrex, but made in the USA. In my scope at least, the optics are fantastic. GSO scopes, as far as I know always used BK7 glass. So I'm not sure what the story is here regarding who makes whos optics.

It would be interesting to know more about this if anyone can shed some light,

Clear skies,
Nick

[hikerbob]

There is a similar discussion at http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/3130227/Main/3129882

[Jen]

:lol::lol::lol: until she touches your scope right hehe :)

[rmcpb]

Jen,

With all my hobbies I'm always in trouble. Too many things to do, not enough money, not enough time!! And work keeps getting in the way as well :P

[Jen]

:lol:
Yep i know exactly what you mean :P

[Blue Skies]

Synta is Skywatcher. Synta is the parent company and Skywatcher is their brand.

[DavidU]

20" of divorce !

[ausastronomer]

I am just wondering what the mirror quality will be like.

As the mirror gets larger and faster it gets logarithmically more difficult to make and specifically to make well. While a very large number of the GSO and Synta mirrors I have seen have been very good they have been smaller aperture and a good bit slower in F-Ratio. A 20"/F4.3 mirror is starting to push the envelope even for a premium mirror maker. It may still be a ways for the mass produced Asian factories to get right. Buyer beware.

Cheers,
John B

[Crusader]

Seems other people have asked their Skywatcher suppliers and they don't know about a 20". There might be a misunderstanding somewhere. I so hoped that this was true!

[astroron]

Just to keep your hopes up :) the same people said they knew nothing about 16"truss dobs;)

[mozzie]

it might be just a missunderstanding but really how much longer till they start to mass produce large appiture
mozzie

[Calibos]

Sure haven't the US distributors only recently admitted to the Tracking motorised Skywatcher dobs. (Or have they even admitted to them yet?)

And yet we've known about them for months from other sources. Twas quite funny reading about them claiming they knew nothing about a new tracking Dob while some of us were looking at the adverts in S&N magazine!!

And like you said. Your SA distributor was very specific about the 2200mm FL wasn't he.

Of course its still just a rumour that hasn't been confirmed from any other source yet but the rumour isn't quite dead in the water yet.

[Crusader]

Yes he was, at least to the extend that he said 'If I remember correctly''. It would be nice if the rumour could be confirmed/denied since I definitely don't want to be responsible for leading people on a wild goose chase.

Guess time will tell.

[skies2clear]

I'd agree with Johns comments here. I wouldn't hold my breath about the quality. At 20", you'd want to be using at least low expansion glass for the mirror substrate.

[el_draco]

Mass producing a 20 inch is not that easy. I picked up one of the few 29 inch F4.5 newtonian sets built by Coulter Optical about 25 years ago. It was a beast of a thing and although I got one of the best amateur views of Halley, mounting the thing fair killed me..... but manufacturing it, killed Coulter ;-)

[Marclau]

Wow, and here I am getting excited about 12"...........my wife gets excited at the 12"...........

29", that just unimaginable............:eyepop::sc ared::whistle::doh:

[seanliddelow]

Right now I am saving up for the 12inch Skywatcher dob but when I am older I will buy the 20 inch. I hope it will be retractable. I would get a trailer for it to save the weight problem. I think it should be a goto. We should give design suggestions to Skywatcher.:thumbsup:

[MLyons]

You spoiling her?
My missus settles for 4" :shrug::D

[Marclau]

Yeah, i try to tease her now and then...........bit like a dog to a bone.......hahahaha:rofl: